To ask if you take your children out alone

Always. To everywhere. All the time.

I’m not a single parent but my husband is very moody so I just bring them out myself.

I haven’t brought them on holidays abroad, that’s the only one I haven’t done.

I was about to jump on and say "yes of course" but thinking back I'm not sure I really did. If DH wasn't coming then I'd tend to go with friends and their DC- that's more from a personal enjoyment perspective than a "coping" perspective though.

Depends what you mean by big day out - somewhere like a full day out to a country park or something, yes absolutely. Somewhere where it is very busy like a theme park or Zoo at peak times etc I would need to think about 1) how easy/safe it would be with only one adult, 2) how much fun/stressful it would be and would it be worth it.

A lot of big days out we did to busy places I went with SIL and niece rather than dh as it was more relaxed/fun. dh has a tendency to get stressed out in busy places after a couple of hours - they are just not his thing.

Yes.

I've taken all 3 away for a week on my own and Daddy has taken them to a destination wedding on his own (granted we did only have 2 dc then and his family were on hand to help)

DP has taken them on big days out alone, as have I.

Yes but I only have 1 and share 5050 with her dad, we go on weekends away, day trips, fun activities - we do all sorts. I dont drive either but she loves an adventure. My friend is a single parent to 4 between 2-10 and she does all sorts with them alone, I have no idea how she manages it.

No.

2 adults are required for any sorts of days out really. My middle child is Autistic and requires constant supervision so 1 adult for her, 1 for my eldest and youngest.

When we only had our eldest, the answer would be Yes. Often went on days out with just 1 of us because of conflicting work schedules.

Yep all the time, single parent. I really enjoy big days out so we go quite often and for overnight stays as well.

Yes I do/have. I find it easier entertaining them out of the house, especially when they were younger I constantly went to soft play, farms and parks, museums on my days off with them. I am lucky I can drive and we usually take a picnic which keeps it simple, I would find it more hassle if I had to take a bus everywhere.

We split school holidays between me and DH to minimise holiday clubs so are out and about on our own with them most days.

Now they are primary age we actually do more 121 time because they have different interests and abilities and enjoy time with one parent.

One place I would never take both of them alone is the beach as I find all the equipment carrying and sand a massive hassle!!

In the Christmas holidays we went to a theme park that was 1hr15 motorway drive away. Last time we went DH grumbled so I preferred to take the children alone. For me it is easier now that they can mostly go on the same rides. A few times I let DD queue for a different ride and came back to meet her, which I was a bit worried about. They don't always agree e.g. where we have lunch but that would be the same anyway with DH there.

Well yes, I am a lone parent!

Yes, of course. Our preference is to go as a family, but our leave doesn't always match up so both of us have organised solo days out.

I don’t tbh. We either go as a family with DH at the weekend or I’ll go with friends and their kids. mines are just turned 4 and 20 months. The toddler hates the pram and the reins so I don’t feel able to safely manage him on my own in a busy crowded place. As they get older and he’s less likely to bolt yeah I would go on big days out myself. At this stage I prefer smaller enclosed places.

No, but only because big days out are infrequent and tend to be family events.
Do plenty of smaller or less exciting days alone with one or all of them though.
I can see it happening more as DC get older and they develop more of their own interests.

I used to. I still do but they are big now, so doesn't count. Another alternative other than being the only adult or going with your partner is going with a friend who has children. We sometimes did it like that because it more fun but actually gives flexibility - I went to the panto with a friend and her kids. When my littlest became scared I had to take him out to the corridor but my big one was happy sitting with my friend and her kids and didn't miss out. Similarly sometimes my brother in law and I did trips with our similar aged kids and I felt comfortable sending my son to the toilet when there was a man to send in after him, likewise I took my nieces to the loo. It makes it more fun and less stressful especially if you have similar outlook on life (we had similar gift shop policies, liased about bikes and scooters, would take it in turns to take snacks for everyone, so they were a group for the day).

Yep! Single parent so no choice.

We have done Legoland twice with overnight stays
London weekend
Paris for 4 days
2 abroad weeks away
And many many day trips.

Next year we are going to NZ for 2 weeks. He will be 7 by then

Obviously it depends on the age of the children and the nature of the activity. There were some things I felt confident to do alone sooner than others.

Single parent, so yes by necessity.

Although travelling to Canada with 2 and 6 year old and driving a huge motor home before satnav was a thing wasn’t a necessity, just a fun trip to spend time with my sister that lives there.

Yes. We go anywhere that we want to go. I've been a single parent for 8 years (my youngest is 8) so if I didn't then I guess we wouldn't have gone further than the local park?

I don't drive so it's walking (& my 2 are great walkers) buses, trains. We've had nights away in hotels at the seaside, day trips to cities. We go to the big park all the way across town, for the day. We most recently sket the night in a town 30 miles away & did a load of Christmassy things there.

Although, OP I have encountered a Social worker once who heaped praise on their dad (who has them one day out of every 14) for taking them on a day trip to London, in the car, WITH A SECOND ADULT) so I do know what you mean. (Yes I meant to shout, & yes it still annoys me)

Honestly, I think it's just what you are used to. I've had school mums say to me 'Oh we can't do that', (go to a park more than 5 mins walk away with one child) 'My husband is working & I can't go on my own' as it's just what they are used to (shrug)

Agree with you on the last point absolutely! Sometimes it's easier to be a solo adult.

Yes of course.

I took my 10 and 4 year old to stay at Legoland for a couple of days last year, dh was working and staying at home with the dog.

It is getting harder for me as I have an issue with my vision which is getting worse. I have blind spots which mean unless my children are standing practically glued together then I can’t see them both at the same time, if they are a few feet apart. So as it stands, it’s getting harder and more stressful to take them out alone.

Yes of course. And so does my husband.

Yes I've always been a single parent, if I had multiple child I would be sure to do 1:1 things with them if that was the question.

When DD was small whenever I tried to organise more expensive trips to the zoo etc with other toddler group mums they would only go if their partners were off work for a family trip. So I just used to go on my own and eventually stopped asking

We often divide and conquer. 2DC similar ages but very different interests and stamina levels. This can lead to lots of squabbles and moaning if we do t choose an activity that is accessible to both. It is much easier to parent one child so it means a more relaxed time for everyone.
we do also take both DC on days out with 1 parent but we have to choose activities that suit both DC and that is harder (and more expensive as they get older).
and TBH , sometimes DH can add to the stress so sometime happy to leave him behind, so long as he does his share of childcare.

Just got back from a week abroad solo with my two (5&3), same reasoning as @AgathaMystery

But agree with you OP people are often incredulous. Had so many people come up and ask me if I was travelling alone with my children and how brave I am to do it and what hard work it must be. Maybe I've just got easy kids (sometimes!!) but it didn't feel worthy of the kudos, was fun!!

Life would have been so boring and limiting when my dc were little if I had to wait for someone to accompany us. Dh obviously works full time. I have friends and relatives obviously but they all work and aren't just sitting at home waiting to see if we're off to a theme park and can come with us.